Traffic Bridge poll released

Anyone wanting to know more about the Insightrix Research Traffic Bridge poll (story here) can get it on the Insightrix website here (there’s a PDF at the bottom of the page).

Here’s press release in full:

October 18th, 2010 (Saskatoon, SK). A new independent online poll conducted by Insightrix Research Inc. shows that a large majority of residents would like to see the Traffic Bridge in Saskatoon continue to be used for motorists. Specifically, 52% believe it is very important and another 30% feel it is somewhat important (a total of 82% stating it is ‘important’). Conversely, 18% feel it is either not very (12%) or not at all important (6%) for the bridge to have continued use for motorists and 1% is unsure. The poll is based on a random sample of 800 Saskatoon residents who are members of Insightrix Research’s online panel, SaskWatch Research™.

In breaking out results among participants, those who use one of the four bridges feeding into downtown as a means to get to and from work (i.e. the Senator Sid Buckwold, Traffic, Broadway or University bridges) are more likely to say it is very important for the Traffic Bridge to be available for continued motorist use (62% versus 47% of those who do not use any of these bridges to get to and from work).

These findings differ considerably from a report developed for the City of Saskatoon in July 2010. This report was based on data collected from an online survey hosted on the City’s website where citizens were invited to provide their feedback on the issue. In that report, only 40% of the 420 responses felt it is important that the Traffic Bridge remain open to motorists. It is noted however, that this online survey was conducted at a time when the Traffic Bridge was still open to all users, while the Insightrix Research poll was conducted after the bridge was closed due to safety concerns. Having said this, the Insightrix poll suggests that it is critical that considerations for the bridge’s future use include motorist options. Of the four options being considered by City Council, all accommodate usage by motorists.

Among the four options being considered, Saskatoon residents’ preferences are divided. Specifically, roughly equal proportions prefer options that keep bridge trusses intact (40%) versus those who prefer a flat-top bridge (43%). The breakout of those wishing to see trusses remain as part of the bridge include equal proportions (20%) who would like to see the original bridge rehabilitated versus those who like to see the bridge trusses replaced with modern steel or a similar form. Fewer residents (13%) would like the City to consider a signature bridge, costing potentially more than double the amount of the other three options. Only one in twenty (5%) have no opinion on the four options presented.

Although the reasons for why people chose the option they did was not recorded, it is anticipated that due to the similar costs estimates of the first three options (ranging from $25 million to $27 million), preferences are likely linked to lane width and whether or not the bridge will continue to have trusses.

This is further supported by the fact that among those who use the bridge infrequently (i.e. less than once every two weeks) or never, the primary reasons for infrequent/non-use relate to: other bridges being more direct for their needs (66%) and because they feel the Traffic Bridge is too narrow (27%). Further, those who use the Traffic Bridge about once per month or less often are more likely to support a conventional design (51%) than are those who use the bridge more frequently (36%).

In reviewing the results by respondent demographics, interestingly those aged 18-34 years (26%) are more likely to support a complete rehabilitation of the Traffic Bridge than are those aged 35-54 years (17%) or 55 years or more (15%). Conversely, the conventionally designed bridge is more likely to be favoured by those aged 35 years or more (47%) when compared to 18-34 year olds (34%).

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